Etim rushed into the house excitedly, he had sighted his grandmother from afar and he came in to call his younge ones.
The three children rushed out to greet and hug their grandmother amidst shouts and screams of "grandma! Grandma!!"
Helping her with her luggage and finally settling in the house, chichi the youngest of the children and Ono the second child began to argue on who will make their grandmother's hair first. Luckily for grandma, the kids mother quickly settled the issue by sending them off to their rooms. Grandma's son their father was away on a trip, but grandma had promised to spend the whole holiday with the family.
Later in the evening, after the children had promised not to dusturb their grandmother, their mother allowed them to go into her room for a while.
13 yr old Etim was the first to request for a folktale. Ono and Chichi were excited at the thought as well so grandma had no choice. She decided to tell them the story of Ajuwa the village belle.
GRANDMA'S TALE
Ajuwa was 6 years old when she got betrothed to the village chief's son. Her parents had considered themselves lucky to be future in-laws to the village chief.
Every year on her birthday, Ajuwa and her parents received numerous gifts from the chief and his subjects.
Ajuwa was usually made to spend time with the chief's son, her future husband, Emeka. She liked him and got used to the idea of becoming his wife until one day, a young man came to the village.
Akin was a youth corper. He had discovered the village during one of his adventurous trips to neighbouring villages in the city he was serving. He however spotted Ajuwa who was 17 years old and very beautiful and he immediately became attracted to her.
Ajuwa ran from him and avoided him at first. But after a week of constantly coming and bringing her gifts and food she was not familiar with but found impressive, she became his friend.
Gradually, Ajuwa's heart drifted away from her betrothed and she became interested in Akin and going to school in the city. Akin promised her a lot of goodies.He promised to help her go to school and become educated and exposed like him. He encouraged her to discuss with her parents.
Ajuwa's parents of course kicked against it vehemently, warning her to stay away ftom the young man. After few weeks, the chief got wind of the new developments and he immediately demanded that Ajuwa and his son Emeka be married as soon as possible.
Ajuwa's parents agreed but Ajuwa had other plans. She wanted to leave with Akin to the city so badly but didn't know how to do it without incuring the wrath of her parents and the gods. It was a taboo to run away from a bethroted too in the land, so she decided to visit the native doctor.
After listening to her plight, the native doctor gave her a soap to bath with for 7 days. He however gave her a warning, she must not wake up in her parent's house on the 7th day. If she did, it would be disastrous and the whole plan will backfire.
Ajuwa did as she was told, and planned to elope with Akin on the 7th day. Truthfully by midnight of the 6th day, Ajuwa ran away from home to Akin. By morning, another Ajuwa had appeared in her parent's home. No one suspected anything.
In the days that followed Ajuwa was happy with her new lover and she started making plans to study. She did not confess how she left home and what she did to Akin. She only lied and Akin was happy to have her with him. Ajuwa however wondered how are parents coped and what the soap had really done at home. She missed her parents but didn't plan to go back.
However back at home, the new Ajuwa had gotten married to Emeka. But Emeka noticed that her behaviour was different and she seemed to not remember a lot of things. Even Ajuwa's mother wondered why her daughter acted strangely , not remembering a lot of things.
Grandma ended her story and the children protested wanting to know if Ajuwa's parents eventually found out or not.. But their mother came to chase them out of their grandma's room.
Grandma was more than pleased...
